Closure for collapsible tubes



Feb. 2, 1943. R'. M. GRIFFITH CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed July s, 195s 1N VENTOR; u

A ToRNE Y.

Pereme'd Feb'. 2, 1943.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,309,895 CnosUaE'Foa COILAPSIBLE TUBES Rose M. Griiiith. Chicago, Ill. Application July s, 1939, serial ne. 282,621

1 claim. (Cl. 2er-6o) My invention relates to a closure for use on containers, such as collapsible metallic tubes. from which a plastic substance such as tooth A, paste, cream, etc., is taken in small quantitiesl for use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple type vof closure consisting of two parts carrying a hollow head'which is secured to or formed on the shell of the container and a cap member which remains permanently in place on the hollow head of the closure, and which by movement from one position to another on the head opens or closes the container as desired by the user.

It is an object of the invention to provide a closure of the type described in the foregoing wherein the discharge opening for the container is formed coaxially with the head and in the front end of the cap, and wherein the head contains thin closure members which operate within the cap in response to axial movement of the cap to close the discharge opening of such cap as a 'result of the movement of these closure members across the inner end of the discharge opening of the cap.

It is a further objectof the invention to provide a closure of this character wherein the hollow head has a'cylindrical or annular neck from which leaves of substantially triangular form project forwardly and converge so that the points thereof will meet on the projection of the axis of the head. These leaves are of such cooperating shape that when they are forced radially toward the axis they will come into edge engagement and likewise point to point engagement so as to form within the cap a substantiallycontinuous wall which will close the axial opening of the cap. 'I'hese leaves are preferably curved sovthat when they are in cooperative engagement they form a portion of an approximate cone or somewhat pointed oval body, such as one end of a lemon. The leaves have the appearance and shape of segments of a lemon peel obtained by cutting the same along planes which intersect on the axis. However, it will be understood that only portions of these leaves need be curved in two directions to cooperate with the inner surface of the cap, which surface converges toward the discharge opening of the cap. Likewise, the leaves may be triangular and curved only in a single direction, or each leaf may be nat and converge toward the axis of the head thereby forming a four-sided pyramid.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a closure of this character wherein the head of the collapsible tube may consist of a single metal wall and may be formed in a device such as now employed in lthe making of collapsible tubes from soft metal alloy. l.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought outl in the following part of the specification. l

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged sectional view showing a preferred form of my closure in closed condition.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section similar to Fig. l, showing the closure in open condition.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one form of head.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary partly sectioned view showing a simple stamped cap and method for securing the same'on the head.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentry partly sectioned view showing a cap secured to a. head of the closure by means of a bayonet type of interengagement.

In the preferred form of my invention I show a container I0 comprising a collapsible tube having a top end wall II from which a hollow head I2 projects. This hollow head has an annular, or cylindrical neck I3 from which a plurality of leaves I4 extend forward and in converging relation so that when the closure is in a closed condition, as shown in Fig. 1, t-he edges I5 of the adjacent leaves I4 and likewise the points I6 of such leaves I4 will be in engagement, thereby forming within a cap I l a wall, the forward portion of which passes across the discharge opening I8 of the cap, eectively closing such opening I8 so that material will not pass from the interior of the head I2 and through the opening I8. The leaves I4, as shown in Fig. 3, form a geometrical figure which partakes either of the characteristics of a cone or of a pyramid, or both. The cap I1 has an inner face I9 which converges to the axial opening I8. The geometrical figure dened by this inner surface partakes of the characteristic of a cone, with the exception that it is curved in two directions like the pointed end of the geometrical figure presented by the skin surface of a lemon. From a consideration of the cooperation of the leaves with the inner surface I9, it will be perceived that in some practices of the invention this inner surface may be truly conical, although in the preferred practice of the invention it is desired to depart from a true conical form so that the inner surface I9 will make wider surface engagement with the curved surface 20 oi' the leaves, which curved surface having a curvature in two directions instead of a curvature in one direction as in a true cone. The inner portions 2| of the leaves I4 are preferably formed so that they are either fiat or have a curvature in one direction only, the inner portions 2| being hat in at least a direction transverse to the axis A-A of the head so that the portions 2i will be flexible and permit the leaves to be bent back and forth between the positions thereof shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The cap I1 is arranged on the head I2 for axial movement. This may be accomplished by providing the head with external threads 22 and the cap I1 with internal threads 24. To prevent removal of the cap I1 from the head I2, the cap I1 is provided with a flange 25 which is turned in, as shown in Fig. 1, after the cap I1 is applied. When it is desired to obtain a portion of the con- `tents of the container, the cap ,I1 1s moved axially outward relative to the head I2, this being accomplished by turning the cap. The inner wall or face I9 of the cap moves forward relative to the leaves I4 so that such leaves may move or may be moved apart from the positions-thereof in Figs. 1 and 4 to the positions thereof s hown in Figs. 2 and 5, the result being that the points I6 of the leaves I4 are moved readily outward from their positions within the opening I8, as shown in Fig. 4 to separated positions as shown in Figs, 2 and 5 wherein the leaves I4 are shown spread to such an extent that the points I6 thereof do not project within the area of the opening I8.

As pressure is applied to the contents of the container I0, a portion of such contents will be forced out through the discharge opening I8, of the cap I1, as indicated by dotted lines 25 of Fig. 2.

If the leaves I4 are formed from resilient material they may be positioned initially so that they will tend to open when the pressure of the cap I1 is released therefrom, but if the leaves are formed from a soft relatively nonre'silient material, such as the tin lead alloys employed in collapsible tubes, the pressure of the material within the head I2 will force the leaves outward into open relation, as shown in Fig. 2, and then after the desired amount of material is obtained from the collapsible tube the screwing in of the cap I1 will force the leaves together into closing relation.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the cap I1 secured by screw threads.

In Fig. 6 I show a. form of the invention wherein the head I2 has a helical groove 26 in the neck I3 thereof, and the cap l1 comprises a simple metal stamping which is secured in operative position by an indentation 21 formed in the wall thereof so as to enter the groove 28. In Fig. 'I I show a cap 30 comprising a metal stamping secured to a head I2' by means of an indented projection- 3| which enters a bayonet slot 32 formed in the external surface of the neck portion I3' of the head I2'. In this form of application of the cap to the head of the container, the cap may be rotated in left hand direction a short distance to cause the projection 3l to transverse the lower at the lower end of the longitudinal portion 34.

of the slot whereupon the cap 3|! -may be moved axially outward without the necessity of further rotation thereof.

I claim as my invention:

In a-closure for a container of the character described, the combination of: a hollow head projecting from the container. said head comprising a. single wall forming an annular neck and a plurality of leaves of essentially triangular form projecting from said neck toward the projected axis of the said neck so that the points thereof may be brought together so as to meet substantially on said axis, said leaves having curved external faces and having flexibility so that they may be swung together and apart; and a cap axially movable on said head, said cap having an axial discharge opening and an inner wall which converges to said opening, said inner wall being positioned to engage curved external faces of said leaves whereby to force the same together when said cap is moved to its closing position, so as to cause said points of said leaves to meet in a position to close said discharge opening, said leaves having wall portions which are straight in directions'transverse to said axis so that the forward ends of said leaves say be readily flexed toward and away from. said axis.

ROSE M. GRIFFITH.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

. February 2,1%5. ROSE H. GRIFFITH.

ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, lineldi, in the claim, after "position" insert 'on saii head1-e;

-and that the said Letters Patent should berend with this correction there# in that the seme may' conform to the record of `the case'inthe Patentl()ffice.

signed'and sealed this 15ml day of'narch, A. 13.1915.

(Seal) l u Henry Van Arsdale,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

It is hereby certified that-.error ep'pers in the printed specification 

